H.S. FOOTBALL: Greencastle-Antrim set to renew rivalry with Waynesboro

Comment

By Ben Destefan

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By Ben Destefan

Posted Oct. 25, 2012 at 10:30 AM

By Ben Destefan

Posted Oct. 25, 2012 at 10:30 AM

GREENCASTLE — This is what high school football is all about.

Two neighboring towns putting community pride on the line in a backyard showdown under the lights.

For the 23rd time, Greencastle-Antrim and Waynesboro will do so once again Friday night at Kaley Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Recently, the Blue Devils have owned this rivalry, winning the last 10 meetings between the two schools, including 2011's 49-14 victory in Week 5.

Despite the accustomed success against its Route 16 foe, G-A understands that solely leaning on history isn't going to be enough against a hungry Waynesboro squad looking to rewrite the script.

"The rivalry speaks for itself," G-A head coach Chuck Tinninis said. "They're going to be fired up and we're going to be fired up. May the best team win."

Through the first eight weeks, both sides have experienced their share of triumphs and tribulations, with the Blue Devils sitting at 3-5 while the Indians enter at 2-6.

Against common opponents, both have also lost to Chambersburg, Shippensburg, Northern York and West Perry, with the lone difference being G-A's 50-3 win over Gettysburg compared to Waynesboro's 19-14 loss against the Warriors.

All things considered, there are more similarities than differences this time around, with neither side entering as a definitive favorite come Friday night.

If the Blue Devils intend on continuing their current streak against the Indians, the focus must be on winning the battle on the ground, both offensively and defensively.

It's certainly no secret that Waynesboro possesses one of the area's premiere ball carriers in senior tailback Johnnie Adgers. Thus far, Adgers has rushed for 926 yards on 170 carries, acting as the focal point of the Indians' offense. As has been the case with most of Waynesboro's opponents, G-A will likely load the box to slow Adgers' productivity, attempting to contain his athleticism and big-play ability, something that the Blue Devils have periodically struggled with throughout the season.

"He's a great back," Tinninis said of Adgers. "We have to wrap him up and make sure we bring him down. If we don't tackle well, he'll make us pay for it."

With the ball, G-A will be looking to establish its own running game, showcasing an impressive collection of talent that combined for 571 rushing yards in last week's 44-27 victory over Big Spring.

The trio of Ashtin Byers (531 yards), Hunter Szaflarski (368 yards) and Austin Scott (314 yards) are again expected to spearhead the Blue Devils' ground attack with the likes of Josh Young, Kareem Aiken and Matt Montedoro also receiving significant carries as part of G-A's backfield rotation a week ago.

Last Friday, both Byers and Scott eclipsed the 100-yard mark while Szaflarski accounted for four total touchdowns, giving Waynesboro plenty to think about. Scott's dual-threat capabilities at the quarterback position offers an additional twist for opposing defenses while the imposing threat of wide receiver Joel Zola grants G-A the ability to open things up through the air.

Page 2 of 2 - Despite seemingly having the edge in terms of playmakers across the field, it comes down to a matter of execution and consistency, aspects the Blue Devils have continually stressed each and every week.

"We must control the line of scrimmage, effectively run our offense and take care of the ball," Tinninis said. "If we can do those things, I like our chances."